Gov. Jay Inslee established the Governor's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation through Executive Order 14-01 to develop an action plan and recommendations to manage, transform, better leverage, or develop Washington’s outdoor recreation assets and state programs to increase outdoor recreation activities as well as promote the jobs and business associated with outdoor reaction.

The task force will hold several meetings across the state to collect information on regional priorities and suggestions for state action. The task force will complete a draft pan and recommendations by September 1, 2014 and a final plan and recommendations by September 18. The task force will expire on December 31, 2014.

The Governor's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation invites you to contribute your thoughts, ideas, and creativity regarding ways to transform outdoor recreation in Washington State. During the next four months, we will prompt you with questions falling under several key focus areas as part of an online forum.

We value your input and look forward to hearing from you!

Washington Governor Jay Inslee established the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation to develop an action plan and recommendations to manage, transform, and leverage Washington's outdoor recreation assets and state programs.

The action plan and recommendations will focus on the following:
• Increase outdoor recreation activities and promote jobs and businesses associated with outdoor recreation.

• Support and expand outdoor recreation jobs, businesses, and tourism across the state.

• Promote and expand recreationaly fishing and hunting opportunities as a way of advancing local economies.

• Support Washington-based businesses' use of Washington's quality of life and outdoor recreation experiences in recruiting and retaining talented employees as well as in attracting new businesses to the state.

• Develop long-term sustainable funding sources for Washington State Parks and other outdoor recreation lands and infrastructure managed by the Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources.

• Develop recommendations for establishing an organizational mechanism to oversee implementation of the action plan.

The action plan and recommendations are due to the Governor and Legislature by September 19, 2014.
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Reply #1 on: Yesterday at 10:20:26 PM »

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Fellow Hunters, Fishers, & Recreationists,

This Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Recreation provides an opportunity for hunters, fishers, and other recreationists to be heard. I am honored to have been appointed by Governor Inslee to serve on the Task Force. So that you have an idea of my background I'm a lifelong hunter, fisher, participant in all types of outdoor recreation, an outfitter and hunting guide for more than 35 years, a member of many sportsman's groups, owner of a popular Washington hunting forum, and on the Board of Directors of the Colville Fish Hatchery (a fisheries and vocational learning center for area high school students).

With your help, it's important that we (hunters, fishers, and other recreationists) provide insight and fresh new ideas to improve opportunities for hunters, fishers, other recreationists, and to help create recreational jobs that will benefit local economies. It's my hope to gather as much input and garner as much involvement as possible to help perpetuate our outdoor heritage, so please be as involved as you can.

Thanks,
Dale

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perhaps we should have events to get kids interested in activities that do not impact the environment; photography, painting, bird watching and other such activities should be encouraged over resource intensive recreation such as hunting and fishing. Take only pictures, leave only footprints.

Is also saying this

I agree, this website doesn't work very well and (at least so far) has not reached a wide enough range of people.

Banning motorized recreation (which only a small percentage of people participate in) would make towns in forested and rural areas more attractive to a wider group of outdoor enthusiasts. It would decrease noise and air pollution, as well as erosion caused by these vehicles. Banning motorized recreation would also help to decrease our unsustainable use of fossil fuels.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The amount of pollution caused by motorized recreation is considerable, not to mention the erosion and degradation to ecosystems incurred by their use. Also, even in the numbers you mention, motorized recreation makes up only a small fraction of outdoor recreation in any western state.
------------------Harbinger G.

23 hours ago

Byron, even if it is certified by the EPA, it still consumes gasoline and releases CO2 into the atmosphere.

Steve, Hikers do consume fossil fuels to get to trailheads (although many drive hybrid or electric vehicles), but their actual recreation does not. Motorized recreation requires fuel even after a trailhead is reached.
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